TEST YOUR MIGHT: Expert level recommendations requested!

CraigMang

CraigMang

Joined
Mar 23, 2015
Messages
458
So I've pretty much determined what I like in knives (at least at the moment), and so in the interest of seeing what some folks who may have more experience than me might suggest for a future purchase, I wanted to list those qualities. Here we go!

  • Wharncliffe/sheepsfoot blade shape. Some belly is okay (ZT0770, Link) and a drop point may even work, but I'm trying to avoid a lot of upsweep at the tip, skinner-style.
  • 3-3.75 inches in blade length.
  • Nothing too wide (meaning thickness). Should be hand filling but not round.
  • NO BLACK HANDLES. Ugh, so many of them! Give me some color and/or texture, amirite?
  • Flipper deployment, although holes/studs as well is fine. Non-assisted is preferred.
  • Slicer geometry, meaning thin-ish blades and flat or high-hollow grinds. Needs a piercing point to some degree.
  • Tip-up, right side carry at the least. More positions beyond that is fine but no tip-down only.
  • Sub-$200 price point.
  • Nice features, but not strictly necessary: bearing pivot (more important for non-assisted), blade spine and flipper tab jimping, swedges, stonewashed finish, medium or better class steel (14C28N, S30V, 154CM, etc.)
To eliminate some contenders, here's what I have (or have had and sold): ZT0770, ZT0450, ZT0801, Viper Dan2, Lionsteel TRE, CRKT Swindle, CRKT Eraser, CRKT Hootenanny, Kershaw Amplitude, Turbulence, Link, Leek, Packrat, Needs Work, Zing, Schrade SCHA9, Spyderco Domino, Southard, Benchmade MiniGrip, Kizer Splinter, Boker Kwaiken, Urban Trapper, Brous T4, Real steel H5. Phew!

Looking forward to some suggestions...thanks crew! :thumbup:
 
Your price point probably rules out my suggestion, but you can find a Large Sebenza 21 Insingo for around $300 on the exchange if you are patient.

1IwUQFfm.jpg
 
I've strongly considered a Sebby, and may yet get one down the line...but for now I'm on a flipper kick. But thank you for the suggestion and for getting things started!
 
Spyderco Yojimbo isn't a flipper, but it does meet a lot of your other qualities.
 
KingMC said:
Spyderco Yojimbo isn't a flipper, but it does meet a lot of your other qualities.
Click to expand...

I've considered the Yoji, and you're absolutely right that it checks a lot of boxes. It doesn't really speak to me design-wise though, oddly enough, and I've only ever seen it in black. Another good recommendation though, thank you!
 
Have you considered a Kizer? the Ki405 fits many of your requirements too
 
KingMC said:
Have you considered a Kizer? the Ki405 fits many of your requirements too
Click to expand...

Hey now, we may have ourselves a contender! I had a bigger Kizer, the BladeHQ exclusive, and it wasn't too great a flipper...but then, it wasn't terrible, and I won't condemn a whole manufacturer just because of one knife. I'm putting that one on the list, thanks King! Keep 'em coming, guys!
 
:thumbup:

I'm really out of ideas now, better let others take over as I'm venturing outside my usual realm.
 
I would have said Southard but you have tried it. So I'd be really interested in why the ones you have had so far didn't satisfy - and it might help refine the search. But what about:
Kershaw Skyline
Brous Bionic
Kizer Ki3401
Kizer Ki4450Ti1 Tigon
Kizer 4443TI2
ZT 0808
CRKT Outrage
Maxace Balance
Kershaw Strobe
CRKT Carajas
Boker Plus Griploc
Surefire Jekyll
Surefire Charlie
Viper 10
Buck Marksman (paint the handles whatever color you like)
Quartermaster QSE8 is above your price range but that slim slicer in Texas Tea finish sure looks nice. The owner is a weasel but they are good chinese knives in my experience.


And don't forget the joy of modding something that's close so that it's just how you want it

Like you could mod the blade length/shape of this sniper for a fun cheap project - it's already very close to what you want
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Boker-Plus-Orange-Sniper-Blade-Works-Flipper

If you can live without a flipper check out the Boker Mini Vanquish - just make some colored scales for it
 
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Not that they didn't satisfy per se, but I like new experiences. I mean, I still have about half of the ones I listed, and I'll keep the 0770CF for a long time because it's probably the closest I've come to "perfection" thus far, but I'm always searching for the new champion...part of the fun!

I did have a Skyline, and it just didn't wow me like I hoped it would, so I should add that to the list. Also, you hit a real contender with the Bionic...I really like the looks of the 2.0 and am itching to try it, but have seen some bad reviews about quality and fit/finish. Also, the T4 I owned for a little bit had a lopsided grind, so I'm already unfortunately wary of Brous as a brand. :-/
 
I would take a look at the Maxace Balance flipper. A new knife, the brand is a division of Stedemon knives. It checks a LOT of boxes.
 
ZT 0808 springs to mind, though given typical ZT grinds you might want a regrind to get closer to slicer geometry.
 
Well there is the Kizer Ki4450Ti1, but that is at your price cap, checks most every box though. If you prefer the same knife but with G10 (colored too!) there is the Ki4450A2. That one comes in a couple of color options, and is well under $200. There is also the Hogue EX02 flipper. The Viper Keeper checks many boxes, and comes in multiple handle finishes, not a Wharncliffe, but the edge is pretty straight. Two things I cannot believe weren't mentioned yet were the CRKT Ripple and Eros.

Funny thing is I am looking for the same knife, but black handles are ok with me, so I was able to remember a lot of knives I had looked at.
 
The Spyderco Delica 4 in Ti/Damascus is pretty close. The leaf blade has only a little belly. Mine is too stiff to flick open but I think I can fix that if I want to.
 
Not a flipper but the BM Bone Collector meets all of the other criteria. Even has a hole so you can flick it open.
 
These are some tremendous suggestions, gang...I'm working today but tonight I will absolutely respond to them all, because I know how lame it can be to suggest something and see no replies. Thanks again, keep em coming if you have any more!
 
ZT 0808... And if you want something other than plain Ti, USA Made Blade has some that they've anodized different colors for no additional charge. He's got a bronze one with blue backspacer right now. I think that it hits all the points you listed, and it comes in right at your $200 budget.

3.25" S35VN Wharncliffe-shaped blade. Length-wise, it is comparable to your 0770CF. Handle thickness is a hair thinner than your 0801, so it is reasonably hand-filling. The tip does have a good taper to it and has a strikes a good balance between fine and robust. The blade has a high flat grind. Blade thickness measures 3.9mm by my calipers (same as the 0801), so it is thicker and won't slice some materials as smoothly as the 0770CF (3mm blade thickness). It is a manual flipper with bearings, so action is incredibly smooth. It has a reversible clip for tip-up right and left side carry.

Here's some side by shots with the 0801 and 0770.

ZT0801_0808_0770CF_open_800x416.jpg


ZT0801_0808_0770CF_closed_800x493.jpg


ZT0801_0808_0770CF_length_800x460.jpg


ZT0801_0808_0770CF_thickness_800x485.jpg
 
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